Chinese President Hu Jintao will visit New Zealand at Labor weekend, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Tuesday.

"President Hu leads a new generation of Chinese leaders and I am delighted that he is visiting New Zealand so soon after assuming office," Clark said in a statement.

"In addition to our strong bilateral relationship, New Zealand values opportunities to work with China as a key partner in the Asia-Pacific region and internationally," Clark said.

Clark, who met President Hu at the APEC economic leaders meeting in Bangkok this week, said links between New Zealand and China are growing rapidly.

China is New Zealand's fourth largest trade partner with a total trade of more than 4 billion NZ dollars (about US$2.3 billion) this year, Clark said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2003)